78 THE SOCIETY FOR THE PRESERVATION OP 



We wish that a game commissioner for the whole of our 

 African preserves could be appointed with a large staff and a good 

 round sum of money at his command. A man with the knowledge 

 and right feeling of General Swayno, for instance, would do the 

 work splendidly. A year ago General Swayno drew up a report 

 on the fauna of Somaliland. His notes, deeply interesting, are 

 printed in the Blue-book, and a kind of census of the animals now 

 existing in the Protectorate. One reads it with mingled feelings 

 of delight, and exasperation. Whilst some species are quickly and 

 surely dying out., others so far have held their own. But every 

 year almost the hunter gains some fresh advantage over his quarry, 

 Of old he had to practise wood-craft. Then there was real sport, 

 To-day, with his arms of precision, he need scarcely stalk the wild 

 creature to get within range. If he is a good shot he is often near 

 enough at a quarter of a mile from the game. Sport, in fact, 

 is marksmanship, nothing more. We remember talking to the 

 late Duke of Beaufort about what really constitutes sport with gun 

 and hound, and he declared strongly that venerie was the thing. 

 This is clearly General Swayne's view too. If the average big- 

 game hunter were of the same opinion, the African fauna would 

 not be in. the peril we find it to-day. 



' To the Editor, Saturday lievieiu. 



' Sir, — The article on " the Dying Fauna of an Empire " which 

 appeared in your issue of November 24 has greatly interested 

 me. 



' Having spent many years in some of the greatest haunts of 

 African big game, perhaps you will give me space to express a few 

 opinions and correct a small error. 



' At present I am personally more interested in the Fauna of 

 Somaliland than elsewhere, owing to the fact that I am resident 

 in the Protectorate. 



' General Swayne's report, which you allude to, was read by 

 me immediately after it was penned, and in the main I entirely 

 agree with him. 



' General Swayne had ever the interests of this Protectorate 

 and its Fauna at heart, and the Government is very fortunate in its 

 selection of his successor. 



' Captain H. E. S. Cordeaux is to-day doing everything in his 

 power to prevent the needless slaughter of the beautiful Fauna of 

 this country. 



' Swayne's hartebeeste still roams in fair-sized herds on the 

 plains to the west and south-west of Hargeisa, in the country of 

 the Jibril Aboukr, Abdulla Aboukr, Samanter Abdulla, and Rer 

 AH Sections of the Habr Awal and Ogaden tribes. 



' The Anglo-Abyssinian line of demarcation to-day cuts off these 



